Protectors for firearm muzzles

ABSTRACT

Protectors for the muzzles of firearms are disclosed, each protector being shaped and dimensioned to close the muzzle end of a firearm barrel and including a magnetic member dimensioned to extend across the bore and a centering projection dimensioned to fit freely therein to center the member for engagement with the muzzle.

United States Patent John J. McDonnell 1245 Broadway, Rensselaer, N.Y. 12144 779,520

Nov. 27, 1968 July 20, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented PROTECTORS FOR FIREARM MUZZLES 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 42/1 N, 42/1 MH,89/31,138/89 lnt.Cl .1 F4lc 21/14 Field of Search ..42/1 N, 1 R, 138/89, 96; 89/31 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 540,748 6/1895 Layton 42/1 (N) 1,089,086 3/1914 Sikes 42/1 (N) 2,983,063 5/1961 Douvi11eeta1.... 42/1 (N) 3,063,184 11/1962 Suka1a,Jr. 42/1 (N) Primary Examiner- Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Abbott Spear ABSTRACT: Protectors for the muzzles of firearms are disclosed, each protector being shaped and dimensioned to close the muzzle end of a firearm barrel and including a magnetic member dimensioned to extend across the bore and a centering projection dimensioned to fit freely therein to center the member for engagement with the muzzle.

PATENTED JULZUIQYI 3,593.45].

Iawezzioa- Jam JlIaDamaeZZ www PROTECTORS FOR FIREARM MUZZLES The present invention relates to protectors for firearm muzzles.

The problem of preventing the muzzle of a firearm from becoming plugged with snow or mud or the barrel-receiving water through its muzzle exists, of course, in both military and nonmilitary use of firearms but is more important in the former.

Attempts have been made to protect rifle bores against the weather but none has been adapted to meet a sufficiently wide range of requirements to merit acceptance although thin rubber caps have been used and demonstrate that it is possible to protect the bores without interfering with the use of the firearms.

The objective of the present invention is to provide muzzle protectors that are better adapted to meet the requirements of use than such rubber caps but are about as ineffective to interfere with the use of a firearm if it is fired with the protector in place. In accordance with the invention, this objective is attained with a protector shaped and dimensioned to close the muzzle of a firearm and including a magnetic member engaging the barrel to attach the protector thereto but yielding readily to enable the protector to be dislodged by gas pressure, the protector also including a projection dimensioned to fit freely within the muzzle to center the magnetic member for engagement with the muzzle.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown an embodiment of the invention illustrative of these and other of its objectives, novel features, and advantages.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section, on an increased scale, through the muzzle of a firearm barrel and a protector attached thereto,

FIG. 2 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 2-2 of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a view of the protector as seen from its muzzle-engaging face, and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation thereof.

The muzzle protector shown in the drawings consists of a thin magnetized metal disc 5 having a central hole 6 provided with a protective locking layer shown as a cap 7. The protector also includes a projection 8 dimensioned to fit freely within the bore 9 of the barrel 10 for use in centering the protector so that the disc 5 will engage the muzzle end of the barrel l0 and assist against dislodgment.

In practice, the diameter of the disc 5 is less than the diame ter of the barrel 10 at its muzzle and the cap 7 and projection 8 are integral and formed of any moldable, nonmagnetic material with the projection 8 extending laterally beyond the hole 6 of the disc 5 to ensure the anchoring of the disc and with the diameter of the cap 7 being substantially that of the muzzle.

A protector in accordance with the invention is light in weight and inexpensive to manufacture and is yet dimensioned to be easily handled even if the user is wearing gloves. The projection 8 facilitates proper attachment and the disc 5 provides sufficient magnetism to prevent dislodgment of the protector under normal carrying conditions but without such a strong attachment as would adversely affect the use of the firearm if discharged with the protector in place. The centering projection 8, when the protector is in place, defines with the muzzle of the barrel, a rearwardly tapering annular pocket ll. Such protectors can, of course, be quickly and easily removed before firing, if the opportunity to do so exists.

I claim:

l. A protector for the bore of a gun barrel comprising a cap of nonmagnetic stock of a cross-sectional area greater than that of the bore of the barrel and having a barrel-engaging face, a central centering projection tapering inwardly towards its free end and dimensioned to fit freely within said bore with its maximum diameter close to but appreciably less than that of the bore, and a magnetic member embedded in said barrelengaging face to lie flush therewith, said projection overlying inner portions of said magnetic mem er, said magnetic member being so dimensioned that outer portions engage the muzzle end of the barrel and hold the protector thereon, the projection facilitating attachment of the protector to the muzzle and providing a forwardly tapering, substantially annular pocket at the junction of the member and the barrel at the closed end thereof. 

1. A protector for the bore of a gun barrel comprising a cap of nonmagnetic stock of a cross-sectional area greater than that of the bore of the barrel and having a barrel-engaging face, a central centering projection tapering inwardly towards its free end and dimensioned to fit freely within said bore with its maximum diameter close to but appreciably less than that of the bore, and a magnetic member embedded in said barrel-engaging face to lie flush therewith, said projection overlying inner portions of said magnetic member, said magnetic member being so dimensioned that outer portions engage the muzzle end of the barrel and hold the protector thereon, the projection facilitating attachment of the protector to the muzzle and providing a forwardly tapering, substantially annular pocket at the junction of the member and the barrel at the closed end thereof. 